New Providence residents crowded gas stations and grocery stores today as Hurricane Isaias began lashing the southern end of the country.
Gas station lines stretched into the street as motorists lined up for up to an hour to fill up their tanks. Outside grocery stores, the lines of shoppers extended into the parking lot due to social distancing protocols.
“I need to make sure my house straight and stocked with food,” said one shopper.
Another piled canned goods into her cart, noting Bahamas Power and Light’s record of blackouts during bad weather.
Bahamas Power and Light Company announced that at 8 p.m. there will be a controlled shutdown of certain high-risk areas in the New Providence grid.
“This would be necessary only if Isaias maintains current conditions and New Providence sees sustained winds of 40 miles per hour,” said BPL.
The company said a second controlled shutdown will be executed if storm conditions deteriorate.
Pinewood, Marshall Road, Yamacraw Shores, Winton Highway/Culbert’s Hill, Winton – Twynam, Nassau East North and South, Perpall Tract/Vista Marina/St. Alban’s Drive, Bay Street and Nassau Village, which are prone to heavy flooding could be impacted during the second shutdown.
Major thoroughfares are also crammed with bumper to bumper traffic as residents make last minute preparations ahead of the windy and rainy conditions that will come along with Hurricane Isaias.
A 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew will begin tonight to give residents more freedom to prepare.
On the forecast track, the center of Isaias
will continue to move near or over the Southeastern Bahamas today.
Isaias is forecast to be near the Central Bahamas tonight, and move
near or over the Northwestern Bahamas Saturday and near the east
coast of the Florida peninsula Saturday afternoon through Sunday.